15 secret weight-loss solutions

1. Horseradish

Secret strength It may bring tears to
your eyes but this spicy ingredient, which
comes from the same family as wasabi, can
help dissolve the fat inside your cells. And
research at the University of Copenhagen
found it also prevents you getting hunger
pangs later in the day, too.
Use it As well as smearing it across your steak
sandwich, try ladling a dollop into your fish pie
to net a narrower waistline.

2. Grapefruit

Secret strength Eat grapefruit daily,
as part of a 12-week weight-loss plan,
and youll shed over 3lb (1.4kg), according to
research carried out at the Scripps Clinic in
San Diego. The chemical properties in this
vitamin C-packed fruit reduce insulin levels,
which promotes weight loss, says lead
researcher Dr Ken Fujioka.
Use it Chop and serve with a prawn curry, or
blend the juice with olive oil, coriander and
pepper for a healthy seabass marinade.

3. Beans

Secret strength Packed with fibre,
beans help you feel full because
they double your levels of the hormone
cholecystokinin. This works as a natural
appetite regulator by slowing the rate at
which your stomach empties, says dietician
Lyndel Costain.
Use it Try baked beans, sprinkled with paprika,
as a side with bangers and mash, or take the
fatty edge off a chorizo stew with butter beans.

4. Spinach

Secret strength These leaves
help you cull calories by smuggling
appetite-suppressing proteins into your body.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden
found the proteins, known as thylakoids,
help to reduce the hunger hormones in your
body after a meal.
Use it Slip some leaves into a bacon and egg
sandwich or serve with lighter meals to avoid
the urge to snack later in the day.

5. Coconut milk

Secret strength Although coconut milk
is fatty, the fats it contains are
essential for your metabolism,
says nutritionist Kate Cook.
Research in the International
Journal of Obesity found that after
just one meal, they could increase
metabolic rate by 5%.
Use it Mix a can of coconut milk
with cayenne pepper

6. Turmeric

Secret strength Curcumin, the active
ingredient in this Indian staple,
helps to burn fat and aids digestion
by breaking down high-protein
foods. Research in The Journal of
Nutrition also found it suppresses
the growth of fat tissue.
Use it As well as throwing it into
your rogan josh, use turmeric to
season a rack of lamb. Or mix with
ginger, garlic and cumin in a lowfat
yoghurt for a spicy dip at your
next dinner party.

7. Cinnamon

Secret strength This spice usually
reaches your stomach on the Danish
express, but it should be more widely used.
Research by the US Department of Agriculture
found consuming a quarter of a teaspoon
every day for six weeks significantly reduces
your blood glucose and bad cholesterol. It
also increases your ability to metabolise sugar.
Use it Sub cinnamon for the sugar in your
full-fat cappuccino or target the calories in
your Sunday roast by using it to season your
joint of beef.

The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietician or nutritionist